Worker reached into the machine while it was still in operation
Give and Go Prepared Foods Corporation, a manufacturer of baked goods in Toronto, was fined $60,000 after a worker suffered permanent injuries when reaching into sugar-sifting machine.
The incident occurred on June 13, 2017 at the company’s facility in Brampton, Ont. The worker was employed by Give and Go as a general labourer and was operating a sugar-sifting machine at the facility.
To operate the machine, a worker stands on a platform that surrounds the machine, and gradually empties large bags of icing sugar into the machine. An auger in the sugar-sifting machine transports the sugar to an industrial mixer, where it is mixed with other ingredients to make cake fondant.
The worker operating the sugar-sifting machine reached down and into the machine to move icing sugar towards the auger. The worker made contact with the auger, receiving injuries.
The worker received first aid at the facility and was taken to hospital for further medical treatment.
At the time of the incident, the sugar-sifting machine was not equipped with a guard to prevent access to the rotating auger.
Section 25(1)(c) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act requires that an employer shall ensure the measures and procedures prescribed are carried out in the workplace.
Section 24 of the Industrial Establishments Regulation requires that, where a machine has an exposed moving part that may endanger the safety of any worker, the machine shall be equipped with and guarded by a guard or other device that prevents access to the moving part.
As such, Give and Go failed as an employer to ensure the sugar-sifting machine was equipped with a guard to prevent access to the rotating auger.
Source: Ontario Ministry of Labour
